India’s spin attack dominates as Pakistan bowled out for 55

In their Women's Asia Cup match in Dubai on Saturday, September 5, India dispatched Pakistan for just 55 before achieving their target in 8.4 overs. India needed only 56 runs after Pakistan posted its lowest ever all-out total in Women's T20Is. Although Fatima Sana gave her team a brief glimmer of hope by dismissing three of India's top-order batters, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma prevented any last-minute drama. With three wins from three, India finished on top of Group A with a victory by seven wickets.

Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar scored 27 runs for the first wicket as Pakistan batted first and got off to a fairly steady start. Before Shafali Verma finally broke through in the fifth over, Muneeba survived a couple of chances, including a straightforward dropped chance at cover-point. She was bowled for 13 off 15 balls. The floodgates were opened by that dismissal.

After charging down the pitch and attempting to heave a Shree Charani delivery against the turn, Gull Feroza fell three balls later, caught at the backward point. With three boundaries in her 14 off 14, Zulfiqar, who had been the fluent opener, was the next to go in the same over, with Charani trapping her in front. At midfield, Ayesha Zafar hit an in-drifter straight to Harmanpreet Kaur, putting Pakistan at 32 for 4.

From there, the fallaccelerated. Prema Rawat bowled Sadaf Shamas for three after going slow and missing a quicker delivery that went straight for the stumps. Pakistan were left reeling at 35 for 6 when Fatima Sana was run out by Deepti Sharma in the following over.

Umm-e-Hani and Eyman Fatima briefly fought back with a 10-run stand, but there was little sign of a comeback. Umm-e-Hani top-edged a sweep off Rawat to Nandani Sharma at short fine, while Eyman was run out for five. Pakistan were out of the game in 18.1 overs when Deepti stumped Tuba Hassan and Rawat struck again to dismiss Nashra Sandhu for a duck.

Deepti took two wickets, while Charani and Rawat each took three. Muneeba and Zulfiqar were the only players to reach double figures.

The aggressiveness with which India began its pursuit suggested that the target would be pursued quickly. In the Women's T20Is, Shafali reached 3000 runs when she hit the first ball of the chase over long-off for six runs and then took a single off the next delivery. At 22 years and 220 days, she became the youngest player to reach the landmark.

However, Pakistan's captain provided a brief opening. Two runs were scored by Fatima Sana in the second over. Pratika Rawal struck the keeper with a delicate edge, while Shafali's leading edge bounced back to the bowler. Smriti Mandhana, fresh off her record-breaking knock against Hong Kong, China, attempted to settle down, but she was run out for nine by Fatima in the next over.

Pakistan came as close as that to changing the game. Harmanpreet and Deepti rotated the strike and waited for scoring opportunities, avoiding unnecessary risks. In the seventh over, Deepti struck a slog-swept four off Nashra Sandhu, breaking the dots. Harmanpreet, playing in her 150th T20I as captain, followed with a six off Sandhu that went straight down the ground.